--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: People are demanding their rights and not…" description: "\"People are demanding their rights and not backing down and I hope that change is on the horizon and change will come to Ethiopia soon, so I don't have ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/feyisa-lilesa-40454_backing-down_people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-no_2940482.jpg" --- # People are demanding their rights and not backing down and… ![“People are demanding their rights and not backing down and I hope that change is on the horizon and change will come to Ethiopia soon, so I don't have even go that far to seek a U.S. citizenship.” quote by Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/feyisa-lilesa-40454_backing-down_people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-no_2940482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/feyisa-lilesa-40454_backing-down_people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-no_2940482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/feyisa-lilesa-40454_backing-down_people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-no_2940482.jpg) > “People are demanding their rights and not backing down and I hope that change is on the horizon and change will come to Ethiopia soon, so I don't have even go that far to seek a U.S. citizenship.” [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses hope that political change will improve conditions, reducing the need for emigration. **In simple terms:** Hope for political change to improve lives, lessening emigration. Key Takeaway Support local change to avoid forced migration. Themes rights politics migration hope Mood optimistic determined Type activist inspirational When to use this quote - activism - policy reform - community building Key Concepts social change emigration citizenship Questions to Reflect On - What actions can you take locally to support change? - How can diaspora communities contribute without leaving? A Different Perspective Change may be slow and face resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Backing down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backing-down/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizenship/) [Demanding Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/demanding-rights-1014520/) [Down and](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/down-and/) [Ethiopia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethiopia/) [Ethiopia Soon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethiopia-soon-4381133/) [Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horizon/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Demanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-demanding-2199382/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Seek Citizenship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seek-citizenship-4381134/) ## Related quotes > [“Rebels are simply oppressed individuals demanding their rights.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-ashwood/rebels-are-simply-oppressed-individuals-demanding-their-rights/) [Sharon Ashwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-ashwood/) > [No genuine change in society ever occurs without the mass public getting behind a cause. The good guys in government are counting on enough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-morcan/no-genuine-change-in-society-ever-occurs-without-the-mass-public/) [James Morcan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-morcan/) > [Which do I care more about - demanding my rights or displaying right choices?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/which-do-i-care-more-about-demanding-my-rights-or-displaying-right/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [I have pleaded (labor's) case, not in the quavering tones of a feeble mendicant asking alms, but in the thundering voice of the captain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-l-lewis/i-have-pleaded-labor-s-case-not-in-the-quavering-tones-of-a-feeble/) [John L. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-l-lewis/) > [“Anarchists are mouthpieces of a declining stratum of society; when they work themselves into a state of righteous indignation demanding 'rights', 'justice', 'equal rights',…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/anarchists-are-mouthpieces-of-a-declining-stratum-of-society-when/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Christianity and Islam are concerned with the idea of justice, which can turn into political justice, social justice, economical justice, and so on. Buddhism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pankaj-mishra/christianity-and-islam-are-concerned-with-the-idea-of-justice-which/) [Pankaj Mishra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pankaj-mishra/) > [In Ethiopia, the problem is that you don't know who's who. You don't know who to trust. You don't have any freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/in-ethiopia-the-problem-is-that-you-don-t-know-who-s-who-you-don-t/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [I hope that the day will come when the system will change and all of the people in Ethiopia will have equal rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/i-hope-that-the-day-will-come-when-the-system-will-change-and-all-of/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [There were times when I was frustrated, and cried and felt helpless, but the reality in Ethiopia is that you don't have much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/there-were-times-when-i-was-frustrated-and-cried-and-felt-helpless/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [The people of Ethiopia are saying they've had enough of the killings and are tired of being exiled, imprisoned, beaten and we are done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/the-people-of-ethiopia-are-saying-they-ve-had-enough-of-the-killings/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [Even if I wanted to run for Ethiopia, I wouldn't expect the government or federation to choose me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/even-if-i-wanted-to-run-for-ethiopia-i-wouldn-t-expect-the-government/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [What I want people to know about Ethiopia is that it is a country of nations and nationalities. Oromos are the majority. But Oromos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/what-i-want-people-to-know-about-ethiopia-is-that-it-is-a-country-of/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [“IT has obviously come a long way—from something seen as a threat to people to something people are demanding as a way of protecting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nandan-nilekani/it-has-obviously-come-a-long-way-from-something-seen-as-a-threat-to/) [Nandan Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nandan-nilekani/) > [“Soon the majority of the world’s people will be living in cities. We are now obliged to think of so many people demanding the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/soon-the-majority-of-the-world-s-people-will-be-living-in-cities-we/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [All across the Middle East in the streets, people are demanding democracy. It's amazing. The only way in America you get people to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/all-across-the-middle-east-in-the-streets-people-are-demanding/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Feyisa Lilesa > [What I want people to know about Ethiopia is that it is a country of nations and nationalities. Oromos are the majority. But Oromos…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/what-i-want-people-to-know-about-ethiopia-is-that-it-is-a-country-of/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [Sports are my life. It is my life but it's also how I earn a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/sports-are-my-life-it-is-my-life-but-it-s-also-how-i-earn-a-living/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [Even if I wanted to run for Ethiopia, I wouldn't expect the government or federation to choose me to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/even-if-i-wanted-to-run-for-ethiopia-i-wouldn-t-expect-the-government/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [The people of Ethiopia are saying they've had enough of the killings and are tired of being exiled, imprisoned, beaten and we are done.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/the-people-of-ethiopia-are-saying-they-ve-had-enough-of-the-killings/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [There were times when I was frustrated, and cried and felt helpless, but the reality in Ethiopia is that you don't have much of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/there-were-times-when-i-was-frustrated-and-cried-and-felt-helpless/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [I'm trying to be careful as much as I can eating this American food. Burgers are heavy. So, I'm trying to minimize that as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/i-m-trying-to-be-careful-as-much-as-i-can-eating-this-american-food/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [I hope that the day will come when the system will change and all of the people in Ethiopia will have equal rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/i-hope-that-the-day-will-come-when-the-system-will-change-and-all-of/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [In Ethiopia, the problem is that you don't know who's who. You don't know who to trust. You don't have any freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/in-ethiopia-the-problem-is-that-you-don-t-know-who-s-who-you-don-t/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [I want to be a voice for my people and I will continue to protest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/i-want-to-be-a-voice-for-my-people-and-i-will-continue-to-protest/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) > [I have no plans to seek asylum in the U.S. or elsewhere. I have not thought about citizenship. I love my country, the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/i-have-no-plans-to-seek-asylum-in-the-u-s-or-elsewhere-i-have-not/) [Feyisa Lilesa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) [Explore all 11 Feyisa Lilesa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/) ## More Backing down quotes > [backing down can become a way of life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-james/backing-down-can-become-a-way-of-life/) [Oliver James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-james/) > [Donald Trump's not backing down. Yesterday he said he doesn't need to be lectured by the other Republican candidates, who he says have no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-fallon/donald-trump-s-not-backing-down-yesterday-he-said-he-doesn-t-need-to/) [Jimmy Fallon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-fallon/) > [You're right, Halt,' she said, and he nodded acklowledgement of her backing down. 'Nice to hear someone else saying that for a change,' Will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/you-re-right-halt-she-said-and-he-nodded-acklowledgement-of-her/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“Standing up for what you believe in comes has a price but backing down exacts a toll that your soul never stops paying”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-goldberg/standing-up-for-what-you-believe-in-comes-has-a-price-but-backing/) [Lee Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-goldberg/) > [Remarkable visions and genuine insight are always met with resistance. And when you start to make progress, your efforts are met with even more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/remarkable-visions-and-genuine-insight-are-always-met-with-resistance/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [We're on record. We're part of the crusade. We're not backing down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fantino/we-re-on-record-we-re-part-of-the-crusade-we-re-not-backing-down/) [Julian Fantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fantino/) > [I'm backing down now. I really do love you. That's why I'm doing this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/i-m-backing-down-now-i-really-do-love-you-that-s-why-i-m-doing-this/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [I am not backing down on medical marijuana; I am doubling down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjay-gupta/i-am-not-backing-down-on-medical-marijuana-i-am-doubling-down/) [Sanjay Gupta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjay-gupta/) > [In the wiretapping, despite all the momentum for a more assertive Congress, you're seeing Congress backing down, because there are many Republicans and even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/in-the-wiretapping-despite-all-the-momentum-for-a-more-assertive/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [I'm drawn to a lot of first-time directors. One of the great common denominators in these small independent films is that there's a person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/i-m-drawn-to-a-lot-of-first-time-directors-one-of-the-great-common/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [You know, before we all started having health care, in the olden days our grandparents, they would bring a chicken to the doctor, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-lowden/you-know-before-we-all-started-having-health-care-in-the-olden-days/) [Sue Lowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-lowden/) > [I hear people saying we don't need this war, I say there's some things worth fighting for. What about our freedom and this piece…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-worley/i-hear-people-saying-we-don-t-need-this-war-i-say-there-s-some-things/) [Darryl Worley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-worley/) > [There’s people who do things and people who never do—who say they will someday, but they just don’t. I want to go on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-black/there-s-people-who-do-things-and-people-who-never-do-who-say-they/) [Holly Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-black/) > [I'll be firm," I promised Patch, adopting a no-nonsense expression. "No backing down." By now Patch was full-on grinning. He kissed me again, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-ll-be-firm-i-promised-patch-adopting-a-no-nonsense-expression-no/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [I want to play a real man in all my films, and I define manhood simply: men should be tough, fair, and courageous, never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wayne/i-want-to-play-a-real-man-in-all-my-films-and-i-define-manhood-simply/) [John Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wayne/) [Browse all 16 Backing down quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backing-down/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "People are demanding their rights and not backing down and I hope that change is on the horizon and change will come to Ethiopia soon, so I don't have even go that far to seek a U.S. citizenship.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Feyisa Lilesa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-not-backing-down-and-i-hope/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Backing down" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-not-backing-down-and-i-hope/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/feyisa-lilesa-40454_backing-down_people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-no_2940482.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/feyisa-lilesa-40454_backing-down_people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-no_2940482.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/442/feyisa-lilesa-40454_backing-down_people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-no_2940482.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“People are demanding their rights and not backing down and I hope that change is on the horizon and change…” — Feyisa Lilesa", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Feyisa Lilesa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/feyisa-lilesa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "People are demanding their rights and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-not-backing-down-and-i-hope/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/feyisa-lilesa/people-are-demanding-their-rights-and-not-backing-down-and-i-hope/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```